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7.06.2010

banana nut muffins

When I left for college in the early fall of 1974, my mom gave me my grandmother's copy of The Boston Cooking School Cookbook, by Fannie Merritt Farmer, 1943 edition. I arrived at my (rented over the phone from a printed listing) room in Isla Vista to discover that by opting for the cheaper "apartment" THERE WAS NO KITCHEN! What I had for $120/mo. was a motel room. (They were upgrading and slowly adding kitchens to all the rooms but I didn't get one until about April). So, with the addition of a mini-fridge, an electric 2-burner "stovetop", and a toaster oven, I was ready to try cooking whatever I could. The banana bread recipe was a favorite. I liked the fact that it didn't call for shortening. It was also very "forgiving" if I was low on ingredients (like eggs). It was a big hit at student pot-luck dinners (well, students will eat almost anything).

after 36 years,here's how the recipe now looks (click on image to see bigger):

I continue to experiment with additions, the latest being the newly discovered coconut flour. Ended up not as coconutty as I had hoped -- more modifications shall ensue!